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OUR HISTORY
50 YEARS OF GROWTH AND SERVICE
Just a
generation ago in the San Fernando Valley, adults with
developmental disabilities had few opportunities. With limited
social and vocational skills and no opportunity for paid
employment, these individuals lived in isolation, entirely
dependent on public assistance and the care and support of
others. The thought of living on their own or working for pay was
just a dream. But thanks to New Horizons, the thousands of people
with developmental disabilities we have served over the past 50
years and the 750 individuals that we currently serve live
richer, more independent lives and enjoy a strong sense of
accomplishment, self worth, pride, and dignity as a result of
their participation in one or more of our programs.
1950s The agency was started in 1954 by a handful of concerned families with children who had mental retardation. Their intention was to provide education and social opportunities to their school age children within an environment of understanding that was not available in the public school system. The agency was organized as a non-profit organization and named the San Fernando Association for Retarded Children, Inc. By 1958, we had built eight classrooms and were serving 100 children.
1970s. In 1971, we changed our focus to serve adults with developmental disabilities and changed our name to the San Fernando Association for the Retarded, Inc. (We are now known as New Horizons.) In 1975, we built a 20,000 square foot workshop to provide paid employment for up to 200 adults doing assembly, packaging, and light manufacturing work. In 1977, we opened our first group home to six adults.
1980s. In 1981, we completed construction of six additional group homes, providing residential living for 36 adults. In 1988, we established the Mobile Crew Program, which consisted of several client work crews that provided janitorial and landscaping services for our main campus and residential homes as well as for businesses in the community. That same year, we established our Supported Employment Program to develop and place clients into regular jobs in the community. We also expanded our classroom-based daily living skills program to include a community integration component that enabled our clients to spend time in the community enjoying educational and recreational opportunities.
1990s. In 1990, we completed
construction of an 11,000 square foot banquet hall and
professional kitchen known as Sam's Cafe that provides food
service training and paid employment for our clients as well as
provides cafeteria lunch and snacks to staff and clients prepared
and served by our client trainees. In 1996, we completed construction of
two more group homes, for a total of nine group homes.
In 1997, we established our Supported Living Program to serve individuals who wanted to live in the community in a home or an apartment of their own but needed our support and assistance to succeed. In 1999, we expanded our Supported Employment Program to include individuals with acquired traumatic brain injury and opened a second Supported Employment Office in the Santa Clarita Valley.
2000s. In 2003, we completed
construction of a 20,000 square foot office complex and warehouse
annex for our workshop, enabling us to increase the number of
clients who could participate in our workshop program.
This same year, we opened a new group home. A new nursing home for
residents with developmental disabilities in fragile health was opened in 2004.
And, another group home will be opened in the Fall of 2004 for a total of twelve
group homes serving 72 residents. What makes these projects so remarkable is that we
raised $4.1 million in donations to fund construction of the
annex and to furnish and equip the new group homes.
Throughout our 50-year history, we have continuously expanded our services, increased our capability to serve larger numbers of individuals, and developed new, diversified programs to meet the growing and evolving needs of individuals with disabilities in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.
Home Services Work Programs Enhanced Living Day Training Packaging/Assembly
News Staffing Service Estate Planning Employment History You Can Help Contact Us